Bible Reading: Judges 10-11:11; Acts 14; Jeremiah 23; Mark 9
Acts 14:26-27 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
When Paul and Barnabas returned from their first missionary journey they had much to celebrate! They had seen the Lord do wonderful things in the lives of many Gentiles. They had responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ in faith and many were saved. On Paphos Paul blinded a sorcerer named Elymas and God opened the eyes of the deputy, Sergius Paulus to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. In Antioch in Pisidia almost the whole city came to hear them preach the gospel. There were a great many Gentiles that believed and were saved. In Iconium the Lord gave testimony to his word and granted that signs and wonders to be done by their hands (Acts 14:3). Things got out of hand and the apostles had to flee to Lystra and Derbe because they were going to be stoned for preaching Jesus.
At Lystra the people mistook Paul and Barnabas for Jupiter and Mercury because a lame man was healed. The people were so captivated by the apostles and the sign they had seen that the pagan priest was going to sacrifice oxen to them. They finally got that stopped but envious Jews from Iconium had followed them and they defamed Paul. They stirred the people up so much that they stoned Paul and, thinking he was dead, drug his body outside the city. He was hurt, but not dead and the next day they departed for Derbe.
Then they returned to all the cities they had preached in (even Iconium) and confirmed the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith. They also ordained elders for the church in each city. After a few more preaching stops they returned to Antioch where they had set out from and called the church together they told all that God had done with them. What a celebration! What stories they had to tell! What excitement!
The most exciting thing was that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. The gospel is for all people no matter where they live, what color their skin is, or what false religion they now follow. Paul told the Roman church:
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
You and I need to be hearing and telling missionary stories like these. We need to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It may be a return from the grocery store instead of from Iconium, but we need to know that God has opened the door of faith and there is work for us to fulfill.
In Christ,
Rody
